Rainbow Warrior begins sampling off Fukushima

It has been a frustrating few days on the Rainbow Warrior. Until Sunday we were stopped outside of Tokyo bay, waiting out bad weather, trying to find a ship’s agent to represent us and arrange entry into port to fix our broken gyro compass, and have had the much-needed independent marine radiation research we intended to do off the Fukushima coast severely limited by the authorities.

Thankfully we managed to get moving again, and we have finally reached the Fukushima coast to begin our research. The limitations set by the government mean we can only conduct a fraction of what we came here to do, and only outside Japan’s 12-mile territorial waters, but we are doing everything we can.

We’re taking regular samples of seawater, collecting seaweed, and getting fish from local fishermen we meet out at sea. The data we get from all these sources will help, however, the most urgent and important research needs to be done closer to shore.

Many governments try to silence their critics, but our mission is not to criticise the government. The Rainbow Warrior is here off the coast of Japan to carry out essential, independent radiation testing, and to share this information with the authorities and the people of Japan. We have been, and will continue providing transparent information that will help people to protect both their health and livelihoods.

The Japanese Government has nothing to lose by allowing independent research by NGOs like Greenpeace. If it wants to avoid harmful rumours then more - not less - research is absolutely crucial.

We hope that the government will stop playing politics, reverse its decision to block our research, and allow us to do what we came here to do: provide clear, independent information to the people for whom help is needed.

Great work! Keep it up!
Have the Japanese refusal anything to do with your safety? The direction of the wind hase been prevailing from the plant...

Great work! Keep it up!
Have the Japanese refusal anything to do with your safety? The direction of the wind hase been prevailing from the plants out to sea.
Are japanese fishermen allowed in the 20 km zone out at sea?

THANK YOU from the people of planet earth.It is vital that we as a human race do as much testing as possible and fully disclose the results .I am fed ...

THANK YOU from the people of planet earth.It is vital that we as a human race do as much testing as possible and fully disclose the results .I am fed up with the Japanese governments attitude.It is appalling that the SPEEDI radiation fallout map was withheld.This is such a terrible disaster that requires URGENT attention from all countries around the globe. good luck with your mission and sincerly thank you.

Bless you all, for your dedication to truth, and helping in this dire crisis. I do hope the Government of Japan, reconsiders their stance, on the muc...

Bless you all, for your dedication to truth, and helping in this dire crisis. I do hope the Government of Japan, reconsiders their stance, on the much needed data, you and the Rainbow Warrior are so selflessly, willing to provide. To turn down viable help at this point, makes no sense. I pray Japan comes to it's senses soon.

Much gratitude for your amazing work Greenpeace!
Having information allows people to make informed decisions and dwell in their personal power. ...

Much gratitude for your amazing work Greenpeace!
Having information allows people to make informed decisions and dwell in their personal power.
I hope the Japanese Govt supports you all and helps provide info to their people.
If you can, please try to influence the more expedient shutting down of the damaged nuclear power stations as they continue to poison the earth. I hope the people of Japan will insist in the complete shutting down of nuclear facilities as well!
Stay safe and go well out there!
K.

Great meeting a select few from this brave crew. Do your best out there and know that all of us in Taiwan appreciate the work you're all doing(or pre...

Great meeting a select few from this brave crew. Do your best out there and know that all of us in Taiwan appreciate the work you're all doing(or pretending to do). And Rainbow Warrior, good luck to you as you sail away into the sunset to make room for your predecessor.